Can-filling machine.



No. 993,921. 9 Patented. r9925, I902.

H. n. sncxusv. {IAN FILLING MACHINE.

A ucjacion fluid Imus, 1901. (No Model.) 2 Sheeiv-Shoei; 1.

3m: Norms PETER: 00v. Pnomuwa, wAsmNamN, n. 0,

(-No'llodel.)

.H. R, snckuE-Y.

CAN FILLING MACHINE.

(Application filed Jan. 28, 1901.)

I 2$haats-Shoo't 2.

Q L 7 k 1 e) to s":

Patented Fab.'25, I902. v

' lowed to separate by its own weight.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

HENRY R. STIOKNEY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE.

-CAN-FILLING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 693,921, dated February25, 1902.

I Application filed January 28,1901. Serial No. 44,957. N model) To allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY R. STIOKNEY, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of Portland, Cumberland county, State of Maine,have invented certain new and'useful Improvements in Gan-FillingMachines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a machine for fill ing cans; and it isparticularly designed for filling cans with viscous material likecondensed milk.

The most important object of the invention is to construct such amachine which will positively and quickly out off the vertical stream ofcondensed milk when the can is full, or nearly so, the material being ofsuch character that it acts very slowly when al- Hitherto this hasgenerally been attempted by means of various kinds of mechanicalcutoffs; but it has been found by experience that anything of this kindwhich comes in contact with the stream of condensed milk as it fallsinto the can soon becomes clogged.

with an accumulation of the viscous material, which sticks to it eachtime the stream is cut off and gradually accumulates until it stops thesuccessful operations of the machine.

I remedy the above difficulties by suddenly retracting the upper portionof the vertical column of condensed milk as it comes from thefilling-nozzle at the moment when the can is about full; and myinvention resides generally in the mechanical means by which Iaccomplish this-namely, a check-valve interposed between thefilling-nozzle and the outlet-port of the cylinder which,' beforeclosing on the return of the plunger, allows the stream of milk to besuddenly drawn back for a limited distance,thus parting the stream,drawing the upper portion back into the filling-nozzle and allowing thelower portionto fall into the can.

The invention further consists of a special construction of the plungerby which its stroke may be accurately regulated while the machine is inoperation and also means for easily changing the machine to adapt it todifferent sizes of cans.

Another feature of my invention consists of special means by which asingle lever is made to feed the cans and operate the plunger at thesame time.

I illustrate my invention by means of the accompanying drawings, whichrepresent a double-cylinder machine constructed according to myinvention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side View with the filling mechanismproper showing in section. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the rear ends of theplungers, showing the connecting parts. Fig. 3 is a front elevation ofthe upper portion of the machine with the vertical can-spouts omitted,and Fig. at is a detail showing the adjustable connection of thecylinder with the frame of the machine.

A is the supply-hopper for containing the condensed milk, the lower endbeing secured the casting A.

' P is the framework of the machine, which is designed to properlysupport the various parts described. As here shown, the casting A isformed integral with and on the top of the cylinder B, which is fastenedto the frame of the machine by a bolts, passing through a slot 5 in theflange b. An inlet-duct a leads forward from the outlet of the hopper tothe inlet-port a, which is situated at the forward end of the cylinder.Within the cylinder is a hollow plunger E, open at its rear end, andimmediately below the inlet-port is an outletport a situated, ashere'shown, inthe axial,

center of the cylinder, and the valve-chamber a which is formed outsideof the port, communicates with the Vertical filling-nozzle d. The inletand the outlet ports are provided with check-valves b and 0,respectively, with the valve-stems b and 0 extending forward andinclosed in bonnets b and 0 the inner ends of these bonnets screwinginto the walls of the valve-chambers and formingthe front.

Spiral springs b and c are sides thereof. provided to keep thecheck-valves normally closed. Means are provided for holding the outletcheck-valved open for a limited time after the plunger has startedto'return, so that the condensed milk in the nozzle (1 may he suddenlyretracted for a short distance. For this purpose I provide an extensionor ofiset between the valve and the 'end of the plunger, here shown as aprojectionc on the inner end of the valve, against which theend of theplunger impinges to hold the valve to f, which runs in guides h.

open. When the plunger starts to return, the projection c prevents thevalve from immediately closing, and so causes the retraction of theliquid already spoken of. The plunger is so constructed that its strokemay be accurately adjusted while the machine is running. As here shown,a spring case or cylinderfextends into the rear end of the plunger, andthis spring-case is connected with a cross-head The forward end of thespring-case or that end within the plunger is closed, except for acentral opening for the purpose hereinafter spoken of, and its rear endis open through the crosshead. The spring-case and the cross-head areconnected by a spring connection which allows them to separate when thecross-head is drawn back and to come together as a solid plunger whenthe cross-head moves forward. This is accomplished by means of a rod e,secured axially to the inner end of the plunger and extending backwardthrough the central opening in the end of the spring-case andterminating at or near the open rear end of the spring-case in a nut 6and a spiral spring 6 impinges against this nut and against the innerend of the spring-case.

An adjustable screw-stop g is provided in the crossbar g which unitesthe rear ends of the guides h, and the screw-stop g is provided with acheck-nut 9'. On the rear end of the cylinder is a stuffing-box e, whichmakes a tight joint with the plunger. It will be seen that while thecross-head and the spring may have the same length of stroke each time,the backward throw of the plunger may be varied by the position of thestop g, against which the end of the rod e strikes. If the stop g isscrewed in so as to stop the plunger before the cross-head has reachedthe rear of its stroke, the spring-case simply compresses the spring onthe rod and then when the crosshead moves forward it impinges againstthe rear end of the plunger and pushes it in with a positive motion.

It will be understood that most of the parts described are duplicated inadouble-cylinder machine, such as is here shown, and the machine may bemade with one or more cylinders placed side by side.

A reciprocating motion is imparted to the cross-head by theconnectingrods j, which are pivoted to the tops of the upright levers J,oneon each side of the machine. These levers J act at the same time tofeed the cans and to operate the plungers. They are pivoted by theirlower ends below the bed of the machine, and at a pointbelow the upperend there is an oifset 7", which swings in under the can-spout andforces the cans 1 along between the guides i to a point beneath thefilling-nozzle d.

The lower ends of the can-spouts are secured to a base 2 connecting withthe frame of machine immediately over the guideways formed by the guides2' The levers .I are operated by connecting-rods 7c, pivoted tocrank-disks k on gears Z. Power is applied to a pulley o and transmittedthrough a pinion m to the gear Z.

Suflicient has been said to show the opera tion of the machine, which isgenerally the same as most can-filling machines. The condensed milk isdrawn in through the inletport when the plunger moves back, and when theend of the rod 6 strikes the stop 9 the plunger stops. When the plungermoves for ward, the material is forced out through the filling-nozzleinto the can. The stream of condensed milk which extends from thelowerend of the filling-nozzle to the can at the end of the stroke issuddenly cut in two by the sudden retraction of the upper end of thestream by the backward movement of the plunger.

When smaller cans than the normal size are to be used, the bolts 8, Fig.4c, are loosened and the cylinder is moved forward, the slot 3permitting such movement.

Itis evident that when the cylinder is moved forward, the stroke of thecross-head remaining constant, the plunger will not reach the inner endof the cylinder. To adjust this difference in stroke, washers to, Fig.2, are inserted between the outer end of the plunger and the cross-head,thereby lengthening the plunger just enough to make its stroke complete.

I claim- 1. In a machine for filling cans with condensed milk thecombination of a plunger and a cylinder therefor, an inlet-port and anoutlet-port at the end of the cylinder, a filling nozzle connecting withthe outlet-port and ad jacent thereto a check-valve for closing theoutlet-port having a valve-stem in line with the plunger, a bonnet forcontaining the valvestem and providing a bearing therefor,- a spring forclosing the valve and an inward extending projection adapted to bestruck by the end of the plunger to hold the valve open.

2. In a machine for filling cans, the'combination of a cylinder havingan inlet and an outlet port, a hollow plunger for said cylinder open atits rear end, a spring-case extending into said plunger from the rearend, a crosshead to which said spring-case is connected,- a rodsecuredaxially to the inner end of said plunger and extending through anopening in the spring-case, a spiral spring on said rod impingingagainst the inner end of the springcase and the outer end of the rod anadjustable stop for limiting the backward motion of said rod and meansfor reciprocating said cross-head to impart motion to the plunger.

3. In a machine for filling cans the combination of a cylinderadjustably mounted on the frame of the machine and having an illlet andan outlet port, a hollow plunger for.

said cylinder open at its rear end, a springcase extending into saidplunger from the rear end, a cross-head to which said springcase isconnected, a rod secured axially to the inner end of said plunger andextending vertical can-spout above said guideway and adapted to dropcans therein, an upright 10- ver fulcrumed below said guideway, anoffset on said lever for feeding the cans through said guideway, aconnecting-rod at the top of said lever for reciprocating said plungerand means for oscillating said lever. I

Signed at Portland this 4th" day of J anuary; 1901.

HENRY R. STICKNEY- Witnesses: r

u S. W. BATES,

HARRY B. Russ.

